N/P: Christian Wood

Why did we kick him to curb? Anyway good interview and good to see him doing well.

Houston's Christian Wood on the Woj Pod: His breakout season, playing amid the James Harden uncertainty, his incredible NBA journey and much more.
Spotify: https://t.co/She13HzZYn
Apple: https://t.co/0qxeGGsuRy

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 12, 2021

This isn't TigerDroppings

They didn't like his character... And he wouldn't take a back up role to Zion. He's not a stretch 5. If you want a stretch 5. You need to go to Europe and get Miroric back in the league.

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Originally Posted by Taker597

They didn't like his character... And he wouldn't take a back up role to Zion. He's not a stretch 5. If you want a stretch 5. You need to go to Europe and get Miroric back in the league.

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Mirotic was more of a stretch 4, but he is not coming back. He wanted to be closer to home.

Know it's a dead letter, but I was never sure if these reports about Wood's character problems were legit sourced or just conjecture. Anybody have anything concrete?

I think in today's NBA Wood can be a stretch 5 and you could have played him next to Zion. Wood is a good shot blocker and a strong rebounder. He's a little undersized, but you can see traditional bigs (including Adams) are having a hard time seeing the floor during crunch time in the playoffs. I think he just got caught in the regime switch. At the end of '19 season all indications were that Woods would play with Pels summer league team and work out at the facility. Something changed abruptly.

FWIW, here is a brief article from Wood's time with the Pistons that touches on some of the issues he's had in the NBA...

https://www.detroitbadboys.com/2019/...ood-paying-off

He would have been a perfect fit with Zion. Said it then and I'll say it now, until we get a stretch 5, Zion will never reach his potential. Ask, Giannis what Brook Lopez means to his game.

Didn’t really fit at the time I presume. He would be a perfect center to Zion IMO. Oh well

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Originally Posted by As I See It

He would have been a perfect fit with Zion. Said it then and I'll say it now, until we get a stretch 5, Zion will never reach his potential. Ask, Giannis what Brook Lopez means to his game.

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I guess it is not too late to trade up back for him. Send Ball to Houston?

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Originally Posted by 13 - 3

I guess it is not too late to trade up back for him. Send Ball to Houston?

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Wouldn't imagine Griff would feel better about the character issues now.

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Originally Posted by PELICANSFAN

Wouldn't imagine Griff would feel better about the character issues now.

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He was ok with JR Smith in Cleveland. Every player has some sort of character issue. We can always shop Bledsoe. Speaking of character issues.

I’ll gladly take Rondo back.

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Originally Posted by PELICANSFAN

Wouldn't imagine Griff would feel better about the character issues now.

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Let's not forget that Alvin probably had some input (or should have).

Nothing against Darius Miller, but after he signed that 14MM, two year contract with the Pelicans last year, remind me how many games did he play for the Pelicans?

Considering that Detroit signed Wood off of waivers after the Pelican set him free, the Miller contract should have been Wood's as he played for peanuts in Detroit.. I know his stats are skewed because he only played eight games for the Pelicans, but he averaged 17 and 8 in under 24 minutes a game; so all the signs were there. Alvin, where were you and did you notice? It was Danny Ferry who brought Wood in...surely he would have spoken up for Wood on his way out?

"....and these are Days of Our Lives."

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Originally Posted by As I See It

Let's not forget that Alvin probably had some input (or should have).

Nothing against Darius Miller, but after he signed that 14MM, two year contract with the Pelicans last year, remind me how many games did he play for the Pelicans?

Considering that Detroit signed Wood off of waivers after the Pelican set him free, the Miller contract should have been Wood's as he played for peanuts in Detroit.. I know his stats are skewed because he only played eight games for the Pelicans, but he averaged 17 and 8 in under 24 minutes a game; so all the signs were there. Alvin, where were you and did you notice? It was Danny Ferry who brought Wood in...surely he would have spoken up for Wood on his way out?

"....and these are Days of Our Lives."

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Good points.

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Originally Posted by As I See It

Let's not forget that Alvin probably had some input (or should have).

Nothing against Darius Miller, but after he signed that 14MM, two year contract with the Pelicans last year, remind me how many games did he play for the Pelicans?

Considering that Detroit signed Wood off of waivers after the Pelican set him free, the Miller contract should have been Wood's as he played for peanuts in Detroit.. I know his stats are skewed because he only played eight games for the Pelicans, but he averaged 17 and 8 in under 24 minutes a game; so all the signs were there. Alvin, where were you and did you notice? It was Danny Ferry who brought Wood in...surely he would have spoken up for Wood on his way out?

"....and these are Days of Our Lives."

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Chances of re-signing him would not have been good anyway. Would have certainly meant we would have not traded for Adams. Given Griff's desire to get Adams, I doubt he would have kept a guy who had character concerns on a $41 million contract over Adams.

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Originally Posted by PELICANSFAN

Chances of re-signing him would not have been good anyway. Would have certainly meant we would have not traded for Adams. Given Griff's desire to get Adams, I doubt he would have kept a guy who had character concerns on a $41 million contract over Adams.

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Steven Adams is of no significance to my post.

or....

You'll have me believe that the reason Griff signed Darius Miller (coming off an Achilles injury) to a 14MM Contract was to secure Steven Adams a full year later. That's quite a bit of Hocus Pocus. I mean, Griffin had the foresight to know that Miller would be the critical linchpin that would make a Steven Adams trade plausible a full year later!!! If this is your reason, Griffin is not just a General Manager; he is God.

Either you, my fine friend, are a Griff apologist, or Griff, himself.

POSTSCRIPT: Like Miller, currently on the second year (last year) of a 14MM contract, had the same contract been offered to Wood, the 41MM contract offered to Adams a full year later would be of absolutely no consequence whatsoever.

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Originally Posted by As I See It

Steven Adams is of no significance to my post.

or....

You'll have me believe that the reason Griff signed Darius Miller (coming off an Achilles injury) to a 14MM Contract was to secure Steven Adams a full year later. That's quite a bit of Hocus Pocus. I mean, Griffin had the foresight to know that Miller would be the critical linchpin that would make a Steven Adams trade plausible a full year later!!! Pl-eeease!! Griffin is not just a General Manager; he is God.

Either you, my fine friend, are a Griff apologist, or Griff, himself.

POSTSCRIPT: Like Miller, currently on the second year (last year) of a 14 MM contract, had the same contract been offered to Wood, the 41MM contract offered to Adams a full year later would be of absolutely no consequence whatsoever.

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Even had we kept Wood, we would have had to re-sign him as a FA. Do you think Griff signs him to a $41 million contract rather than trade for Adams? It has every significance to the Wood decision. We would not have done both. Arguably, Wood (without any baggage) may have been a better fit for this team and saved some assets as a result. However, I do not think that is what Griff would have done.

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Originally Posted by PELICANSFAN

Even had we kept Wood, we would have had to re-sign him as a FA. Do you think Griff signs him to a $41 million contract rather than trade for Adams? It has every significance to the Wood decision. We would not have done both. Arguably, Wood (without any baggage) may have been a better fit for this team and saved some assets as a result. However, I do not think that is what Griff would have done.

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It has absolutely no significance. They are two separate transactions in two separate years. What am I missing here?

I have no true idea, because I'm not quite as clairvoyant as you, but I have a feeling that in 19/20 Wood would helped this team much, much more than a JAX.......or a Ja.......or, even a Derrick. Perhaps you can argue otherwise, but a 13 game losing streak and a 30 and 42 overall record suggest the three mentioned players didn't/couldn't cut it.

But the more I think about it, had Wood been on the team last year, maybe...just maybe...the Pelicans would have made the playoffs and then Alvin might still be in our midst.

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Originally Posted by As I See It

But the more I think about it, had Wood been on the team last year, maybe...just maybe...the Pelicans would have made the playoffs and then Alvin might still be in our midst.

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So was that your goal or are you looking at this year's team and the future?

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Originally Posted by PELICANSFAN

So was that your goal or are you looking at this year's team and the future?

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Sorry I was in meetings.

My goal is unchanged; it is, first and foremost, to maintain a viable presence in NOLA. Second to put the best possible product on the court now, without sacrificing the future. Third, to build a program and not just a team.

I contend that signing Wood over Miller was a no brainer to checking all three boxes. Miller (who I hold no ill-will toward), did nothing in terms of the 19/20 Pelicans. .

I don't think including Wood instead of Miller for a trade for Adams would have been a deal breaker for the Thunder had the Pelicans still wanted to. Do you?

So, as I answered your question, here's mine: Do you want to tank? If so, for how long?

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Originally Posted by As I See It

Sorry I was in meetings.

My goal is unchanged; it is, first and foremost, to maintain a viable presence in NOLA. Second to put the best possible product now on the court without sacrificing the future. Third, to build a program and not just a team.

I contend that signing Wood over Miller was a no brainer to checking all three boxes. Miller (who I hold no ill-will toward), did nothing in terms of the 19/20 Pelicans. .

I don't think including Wood instead of Miller for a trade for Adams would have been a deal breaker for the Thunder had the Pelicans still wanted to. Do you?

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We couldn't have traded Wood for Adams. He was a FA. The decision would have been to either sign him to a bigger deal and make him our 5 OR trade for Adams.

Would he have been more valuable than Miller? In hindsight, sure, but Miller was signed to that contract to be a trade chip. His injury blew that up. At best, I think Wood would have been here for one season and who knows how much playing time he would have gotten under Gentry?

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Originally Posted by PELICANSFAN

We couldn't have traded Wood for Adams. He was a FA. The decision would have been to either sign him to a bigger deal and make him our 5 OR trade for Adams.

Would he have been more valuable than Miller? In hindsight, sure, but Miller was signed to that contract to be a trade chip. His injury blew that up. At best, I think Wood would have been here for one season and who knows how much playing time he would have gotten under Gentry?

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Huh?????

If we would have signed signed Wood to the two year Darius Miller deal (as I said in my very first post), he most certainly would have been tradable (just like Darius was).

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Originally Posted by As I See It

Huh?????

If we would have signed signed Wood to the two year Darius Miller deal (as I said in my very first post), he most certainly would have been tradable (just like Darius was).

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Wood would not have signed a deal for $7m a year.

We know that because he got claimed off waivers by Detroit and then when he hit the free market he got offered a deal worth pretty much double that. You can't argue that we should have signed Wood to the two year Miller deal, which was about $7m a year, when we know his free market price was about $14m a year.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

Wood would not have signed a deal for $7m a year.

We know that because he got claimed off waivers by Detroit and then when he hit the free market he got offered a deal worth pretty much double that. You can't argue that we should have signed Wood to the two year Miller deal, which was about $7m a year, when we know his free market price was about $14m a year.

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How can you say we know that? Just Curious. What did play for in Detroit?

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Originally Posted by As I See It

How can you say we know that? Just Curious. What did play for in Detroit?

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He was claimed off waivers in Detroit for pittance, but when he hit the open market properly after that one year in Detroit, he got signed by the Rockets for 3yrs $41m. That's how I know his market value was about double that: it's the contract he got given as soon as he was a proper free agent again.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

He was claimed off waivers in Detroit for pittance, but when he hit the open market properly after that one year in Detroit, he got signed by the Rockets for 3yrs $41m. That's how I know his market value was about double that: it's the contract he got given as soon as he was a proper free agent again.

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So you contend, that an undrafted free agent who never made any real money in the NBA would have scoffed at a 14MM, two year contract and gambled on himself. Okay, that makes sense. Hindsight LMAO!!!

Who was paying Wood even $14 million in 2019? The Pels had plenty of leverage to sign him near league minimum with a team option for this year. Wood was just looking to stick on an NBA roster when the Pels cut him. I thought he was well worth a flyer just based on his 8-game tryout with us...

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Originally Posted by As I See It

So you contend, that an undrafted free agent who never made any real money in the NBA would have scoffed at a 14MM, two year contract and gambled on himself. Okay, that makes sense. Hindsight LMAO!!!

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You are the one who is trying to instill hindsight. He was a fringe NBA player who was already signed on a league minimum deal. Miller was signed to the 2 year/$14 million deal to make him a trade chip that season. I guess we could have cut Wood and re-signed him to that deal instead of Miller, but do not recall the timing of his demand to be released. He did not feel he was going to get any playing time and he wanted to go somewhere of his choosing to show his worth. If he would have agreed to be released and re-sign that deal, he would have gotten $7 million guaranteed (the 2nd year was non-guaranteed) and been traded wherever the Pelicans chose. His concern was that with the Pels, he would not leave the bench much. It is all pretty irrelevant since the team was concerned about his character and probably did not want to invest in him anyway.

I think the Pels would have been more comfortable keeping Wood around had they not been bringing in 3 rookies. Wood was not good enough at that time to make up for his immaturity. They may have been more comfortable with it if SGA was in the building instead of Gentry as well.

While Jah was not good when on the floor, he was a tremendous leader off the floor that the young guys looked up to. He taught them how to be professional and how to work.

The FO knew that they weren't keeping Wood past the season, so they went with the guy they knew would set a great example instead of the guy who was a poor locker room presence. It's as simple as that. There's no reason to harp on it. This is not conjecture but obviously not really common knowledge as well. Everyone in the league knows about Wood's issues, though. The Rockets had their backs against the wall with Harden, so they needed to take a chance on his skillset

This may come as a surprise to some folks on here, but NAW and Jax work their butts off. Jah deserves some credit for that. He knew his role was to work as a mentor with those dudes, and he did a fantastic job of it, specifically as a 24 year old young vet. It's the main reason he got another gig so quickly with the Pistons

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Originally Posted by PELICANSFAN

You are the one who is trying to instill hindsight. He was a fringe NBA player who was already signed on a league minimum deal. Miller was signed to the 2 year/$14 million deal to make him a trade chip that season. I guess we could have cut Wood and re-signed him to that deal instead of Miller, but do not recall the timing of his demand to be released. He did not feel he was going to get any playing time and he wanted to go somewhere of his choosing to show his worth. If he would have agreed to be released and re-sign that deal, he would have gotten $7 million guaranteed (the 2nd year was non-guaranteed) and been traded wherever the Pelicans chose. His concern was that with the Pels, he would not leave the bench much. It is all pretty irrelevant since the team was concerned about his character and probably did not want to invest in him anyway.

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When he was let go, I said it was mistake....no hindsight, here, pal. I said back then, he would be a perfect complement to ZW and that Miller's money would have been better spent on him (and this was before Miller blew out his Achilles). I know you have the means to look it up, so please do.

But to your point. You'd have us believe, that a guy, who NEVER made any money in the NBA would turn down 7MM a year - two year contract in favor of going through waivers with the risk of being picked up by somebody and playing for the league minimum (which is exactly what happened) over pocketing a sure 7MM in 2019-20? Further, he could have been buried on Detroit's bench behind Drummond, Griffin and Duombouya (it was possible back then). Given that possibility, would he have been any better position this year than last?

Kindly don't paint the hindsight label on me....it doesn't fit.

I do hope, for your sake, that you have a financial counselor to lean on.